Salmond warned not to ‘play games’ with the nuclear deterrent

THE Defence Secretary yesterday warned Alex Salmond not to play “irresponsible games” with Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

Philip Hammond said the deterrent had operated successfully for 43 years []

Philip Hammond said it was there to protect the nation as a whole.

On a visit to the Trident submarine base at Faslane on the Clyde, Mr Hammond added that the deterrent had operated successfully for 43 years, and it was not possible to say where the threat would come from over the next 20 to 50 years.

He said it directly supported 6,500 military and civilian jobs and the new investment could see that rise to 8,000.

The Defence Secretary also dismissed as “utterly bizarre” the SNP’s desire to be in Nato but to scrap Trident.

He added: “You can’t say you want to be a member of a club and enjoy all the benefits that brings, but not play your part in it.”

The Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, attacked Westminster for “dumping” weapons of mass destruction on Scotland, and added: “The cash squandered on designing the new Trident system in a period of austerity is a waste.

“It illustrates the independence dividend, and how we could spend Scotland’s share of Trident on public services. The Scottish Parliament has voted clearly, across parties, against Trident.”